Founder & Director: Robert Pelaski

Be present, open and honest with yourself.

Robert Pelaski is a 1,200 hour RYT yoga teacher and studio owner from New York now living in Puerto Vallarta. His first studio opened in the lakeview community of Chicago on 11.11.11 at 2961 Lincoln Avenue.

He draws his teachings from the profound wisdom of his teachers, David Life and Sharon Gannon. Robert received his Jivamukti training at an intensive residental program at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, where he continues his ongoing education and spiritual practice. In his classes, through a variety of vinyasa formats, he shares the five tenets of Jivamukti Yoga—ahimsa, bhakti, meditation, nada yoga, and study of scripture—with students and practitioners throughout Puerto Vallarta. With twenty years of teaching experience and thirty years of public service at hand, he enthusiastically continues his daily practice and shares his gifts to all who come. He continued his studies in both Mysore, India with BNS Inyegar prana yama courses, and Asthanga with Ajay Kumar of Sthalam8 School of Asthanga. Then on to Risikesh with Kaml Singh.

Types of classes offered: Jivamukti, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Restorative and Basics yoga classes

What makes Samgha Yoga unique and why should someone try your classes? The authenticity of it all is why people come and return. A 90 minute class is the best opportunity to experience the vast and rich history of our studies.  We welcome everyone to study with us from 50 hour immersions to 500hr RYS certification. Many of our students visiting Puerto Vallarta come from cities that offer one of our five categories of practice, therefore strengthening their practice. Great benefits are attained with our methods which the curriculum is prepared and written under. The authenticity of our practices from India are at the forefront of our classes, immersions, and workshops. Mysore, India with BNS Inyegar and Ajay Kumar are home to the teachers of Robert. In Rishikesh he continued his education at Tattvaa Yoga Shala with Kamal Singh on the banks of the holy Ganges river. London England was influential for many years in Roberts study as well as Munich and Berlin Germany.

What advice do you have for someone who is trying your studio/classes for the first time? Be present, open and honest with yourself.

Robert is known for his challenging but sustainable & insightful classes that infuse soulful eclectic music, chanting, skillful and intuitive assists and a down to earth approach to life and the practice of yoga. The experience invites the student to explore and investigate perceived limitations with an open heart and humor to facilitate the allowing of "what is". Robert is a certified Jivamukti instructor, studied Asthanga yoga as well, he appreciates the potency of this practice and enjoys coalescing these two powerful methods to create a visceral balance positively influencing how we see ourselves, and the world.

Roberts introduction to yoga was a natural progression from his group fitness background, his passion for music and body movement all of which have influenced his style and approach to teaching and life.

When not teaching, he continues his practice in studying yogic philosophy, Sanskrit, and chanting & kirtan. He has personally spanned the Earth landing on five continents and over 112 countries which collaborate the essence of our true form found nowhere else in Puerto Vallarta. He has done a headstand on the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sat in the prison cell of Nelson Mandela on Robyn Island in South Africa six months after apartheid to pray, raced downtown to aide survivors to give blood while living in Manhattan during 9/11, and taught a 77-year old man with Parkinson’s disease a 90-minute yoga class.